LeMahieu making case for future playing time

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com

DENVER -- DJ LeMahieu is putting himself in what could be a difficult but pleasant conversation about the Rockies' infield future.

The trade of veteran second baseman Marco Scutaro to the Giants opened starting opportunities for LeMahieu, who has hit for a .383 average (going into Tuesday night against the Brewers) since being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on July 17. In five starts at second base, he was 11-for-17 with a double and a home run, plus five RBIs and six runs.

The recent pace is more than one can reasonably ask, but if LeMahieu -- a Cubs second-round pick in 2009 who joined the Rockies in an offseason trade -- can stick with the good-hitting habits he is developing, he will be a candidate for future starts and playing time.

Recent callup Josh Rutledge has provided standout hitting at shortstop (.327, six homers, 20 RBIs) since his callup from Double-A Tulsa. Rutledge is expected to move to second base when regular shortstop Troy Tulowitzki returns from his left groin injury, probably in September. But LeMahieu has presented himself as a viable option at second. The Rockies also have Chris Nelson, a strong defender at second and third who has been affected by various injuries this season.

LeMahieu, 24, out of LSU, said he is just glad to be part of a talented group of young players.

"I'm just happy to be doing well right now, hoping to ride it out as long as I can, keep producing, and helping the team win," LeMahieu said. "You can see the talent with the young guys, position players and pitchers. When we all get going on a consistent basis, there's going to be a lot of talent on the field and it's going to be pretty exciting. Everyone kind of sees that, too."

Trimming some of the uppercut out of his swing path has helped LeMahieu, who at 6-4 and 205 pounds is big for a second baseman but nimble enough to handle the job defensively.
"I've been working hard with Carney [Lansford, the Rockies' hitting coach] and 'Trace,' [manager Jim Tracy] working hard on my swing," he said. "It was stuff I've always done and gotten away with, swinging up on the ball and not staying on top of it. At this level, you can't get away with that. It's a couple minor things.

"I guess it's starting to pay off a little bit. The more comfortable I feel mechanically at the plate, the more comfortable I'm going to be up there."

Pomeranz skipping start; Moscoso recalled

DENVER -- The Rockies have pushed left-hander Drew Pomeranz's next start from Wednesday to Sunday because of soreness in his chest. Manager Jim Tracy announced after Tuesday night's game that right-hander Guillermo Moscoso, who was scratched from his start at Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday, will be recalled as a replacement for Wednesday's finale against the Brewers.

Moscoso, who has been up and down between the Rockies and Colorado Springs, will be asked to lead the Rockies to a three-game sweep. The Rockies will clear a 25-man roster spot for Moscoso before Wednesday's game.

Moscoso is 0-1 with an 8.23 ERA in 10 big league appearances, including two starts. He also is 8-5 with a 6.25 ERA in 16 games, all starts, for Colorado Springs.

The move illustrated the delicate balance the Rockies are trying to achieve with Pomeranz, 23, who is in just his second pro season. Pomeranz (1-7, 5.04 ERA) has thrown a combined 111 1/3 innings between the Minors and the Majors this season, after throwing 119 1/3 in the Minors and Majors last year.

The Rockies, who obtained Pomeranz from the Indians in last summer's Ubaldo Jimenez trade, want to limit his innings load but Tracy said there is value in Pomeranz becoming accustomed to the length of the season. Pomeranz has dealt with on-and-off soreness and has yet to learn to how navigate a Major League game when he isn't feeling at his best, either physically or with the action of his pitches.

"As a young kid that's learning all about the nuances of pitching at the Major League level and distinguishing between soreness and pain. Those are things that you go through as a young pitcher," Tracy said. "He's a young kid and we're keeping an eye on where he is innings-wise in relation to where he's been in the past. But in my opinion there's somewhat of a delicate balance.

"The other thing is them understanding that the season doesn't end at the end of August. You want your seasons to be ending late in October. Hopefully you play the very last game of the year. There has to come an understanding of that. I guess the best way to put it is you push, but you push with caution."

Tulowitzki to travel with Rockies on road trip

DENVER -- The Rockies will take shortstop Troy Tulowitzki with them next week on their road trip to New York and Chicago to continue the intense work he is doing as he tries to come back from left groin surgery in June.

Tulowitzki is doing full baseball activities but the Rockies are giving him additional training exercises to make sure he is in shape and not a risk for re-injury.

"We want to make sure that he's mentally and physically comfortable with where he's at," manager Jim Tracy said. "If he continues to improve, then at some point in time we'll begin to discuss some rehab plans with him."

Cuddyer testing strained oblique at Triple-A

DENVER -- Rockies veteran Michael Cuddyer, who missed his 10th game Tuesday night with a right oblique strain, began an injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Colorado Springs on Tuesday night.

He went 4-for-4, including a home run, a double and three RBIs in the Sky Sox's 12-9 victory over Albuquerque. The plan is for Cuddyer to play for Colorado Springs again Wednesday, and join the Rockies on Thursday for the opener of a four-game set with the Marlins.

The Rockies will make sure the oblique can handle the stress of swinging or from sudden movements before activating Cuddyer from the 15-day disabled list.